Perceptions of Play: learning Python through games

We learn best when we are relaxed, curious and enjoying ourselves. Without knowing a lot of Python, making a fun-to-play game is an achievable goal. Without knowing anything about programming, playing a game can be an accessible way to understand how programs work. The poster will invite people to consider the role of play in adult learning. (Much of it will also be relevent to teachers of younger people.) It will frame success and failure in the context of taking part, winning and losing.

The poster will give examples of games that are within the reach of a beginner programmer to design and build. It will explore what makes a well-designed game and how to develop good design elements simply. The goal is for people to identify resources for learning and developing Python skills based around building games. This will include: practice opportunities, Python libraries for game-building, and useful programming concepts.

If there are the facilities (small table and access to power) I will demonstrate one game during the poster session. The goal will be to illustrate the concepts, of good design and developing learning, introduced in my poster. It will have input and output interaction using a Raspberry Pi and basic electronics.